Eating matzah on Erev Pesach which is Shabbat

Hi,

One may not use matzah for Shabbat morning meals, when Erev Pesach is Shabbat, because of the rule prohibiting consumption of matzah on Erev Pesach. There is room for leniency to permit use of matzah for the Friday night meal, but it would be best to avoid it because of the view that one should not eat matzah even on night before Pesach.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:155)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Matzah meal products on Erev Pesach

Hi,

We have said that one may not eat matzah on Erev Pesach.

Products made of baked matzah meal are included in this practice. However, boiled products, like matzah balls, may be eaten; those are not considered matzah anymore, at all.

Of course, one would still be limited to eating these before the tenth hour of the day, to avoid ruining his appetite for the Seder.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 471:2; Mishneh Berurah 471:20)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Matzah on Erev Pesach, for children

Hi,

Children who are not old enough to understand the re-telling of the Exodus at the Seder are permitted to eat matzah on Erev Pesach.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 471:2; Mishneh Berurah 471:13-14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Matzah on Erev Pesach

Hi,

We do not eat matzah on Erev Pesach, so that the matzah we eat at the seder will be special. However, in the morning and early afternoon (before the "10th hour") one may eat enriched matzah, since that would not qualify for seder use.

Note, as we said yesterday, that one should not eat this if it would take away from his appetite for that evening's matzah.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 471:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Eating on Erev Pesach

Hi,

One should not eat a lot on Erev Pesach, if he knows that this will ruin his appetite for matzah at the seder.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 470:3, 471:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The morning of Erev Pesach

Hi,

One may engage in work on the morning of Erev Pesach, assuming the general custom in his locale is to permit it.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 468:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Work on Erev Pesach

Hi,

Although one may not engage in work [see previous emails] on the afternoon of Erev Pesach, one who hires a non-Jewish employee or contractor may permit him to work at that time as needed, even on the premises of the Jew's home.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 468:1; Mishneh Berurah 468:5; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 468:1-3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Which sort of work is prohibited on Erev Pesach?

Hi,

We have said that one is not permitted to engage in work on the afternoon of Erev Pesach. However, the list of prohibited actions is not clear.

We know that melachah, the tasks prohibited on Shabbat and Yom Tov, like writing, are permitted in many circumstances. On the other hand, one is not to engage in personal grooming like cutting his nails or taking a haircut [although one may cut his nails if he failed to do so in advance, and one may go to a non-Jewish barber]. And authorities distinguish between מלאכה גמורה, "total melachah" and other types of melachah.

Given the lack of clarity in the matter, one should consult a competent halachic authority regarding specific cases.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 468:1-2; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 468:1-3; Mishneh Berurah 468:5-7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Working on Erev Pesach

Hi,

We are not permitted to engage in work on Erev Pesach after midday. This includes unpaid work. This time period, the time when we bring the korban pesach, has the status of a Yom Tov [holiday].

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 468:1; Mishneh Berurah 468:1; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 468:1-2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Eating on Erev Pesach

Hello,

For the approximately 3 hours preceding the start of Passover, one should eat only snacks of meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, lest he not be hungry for the Seder that night.

Even earlier in the day one should not eat large quantities of food, lest he become full.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 471:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai